Dear Durham Democratic Women and Friends:Who ever thought the General Assembly would still be in session, with so much still unresolved, the week after July 4th?But they are still there, still passing legislation that chips away at our rights. So we need to be there too.Please plan to come out for Moral Monday tomorrow. Lots of folks are still afraid that if they show up at Moral Monday they will be arrested. Please know – and assure all your friends – that you will not be arrested unless you want to be and plan on it. Most of the people who attend are there for support of those who will commit civil disobedience and to make a statement to the legislators inside the State House that there are thousands of us who are upset enough about what they are doing inside to come out, no matter the weather, no matter how often, to say: we have had enough! We want state representatives who represent us and are willing to stand up for us! WE want§ People’s representatives who will not deny North Carolinians access to health care.§ People’s representatives who will not deny unemployment compensation to North Carolinians who cannot find work.§ People’s representatives who will not infringe on a woman’s right to make her own health care and reproductive decisions with the help of a medical professional. § People’s representatives who know that education is the best pathway to success in our culture and will not destroy the public K-12 and higher education systems which are the only route to a better life for most North Carolinians.§ People’s representatives who stand up for a fair budget that funds important state functions and services and makes sure that all of us – including corporations and the wealthiest among us – pay their fair share for the benefits are state offers.If you care about any of these issues, please come out. And if you care about women’s right to make her own decisions about health and birth control, please wear pink or purple!The schedule is as always:3:00 PM if you want to commit civil disobedience. This week come to Christian Faith Baptist Church, 509 Hilltop, Raleigh, NC5:00 PM at Halifax Mall if you want to stand and up be counted.There’s more you can do, too:Tuesday, July 9 at 9AM -- 'Women Are Watching' Rally to Stop HB695 at the Legislature -- https://www.facebook.com/events/273012696171656/If we all make our voices heard, we can stop the House from taking our access to women-centered reproductive health care away from us.If you can’t get to the hearing, here’s what else you can do to make sure the legislature knows how you feel:Sign this petition on HB695.Here is the shortened link: http://bit.ly/1cQVPdsCall or write Speaker Tom Tillis and let him know where you stand.Call or write Governor Pat McCrory. Remind him of his promise not to support further restrictions of women’s right to abortion.Write a letter to the editor of the Durham Herald Sun or the News and Observer. There have been powerful letters this weekend: add your voice. For all the ‘how to’s’ you need to write or call visit our websitehttp://www.durhamdemwomen.org.Tuesday, July 9 at 5:45PM -- 'Phone Bank to Protect Voting Rights' -- Democracy NC, 1821 Green Street in Durham. To RSVP, contact Allison Harrison at allison@democracy-nc.orgSunday, August 4 at 3:00 PM -- Save the date for Durham Democratic Women’s next public meeting. This time on the topic of the moment, the topic to save our future:What we can do right now to protect our voting rights!Durham Democratic Women is ready to act. So please join us at the Durham Public Library. More information soon. Please check our website www.durhamdemwomen.org and friend us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/77234686574/permalink/10151699743826575/

If you are feeling worn down by this relentless assault, hold on, keep faith alive. I was inspired yesterday, reading a piece in the New York Times about Ahmed Kathrada, the 83 year old South African anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned with Nelson Mandela, and served at his side. “During the sometimes rocky transition to democracy, many South Africans drew faith from the former Robben Island prisoners’ dedication to their cause, even against the longest odds, and their eventual triumph. If for all those years. the thinking went, they could have faith in a new South Africa, then surely South Africans who endured far less could do so today. “The 1960s were the worst period, inside and outside of jail,” Kathrada said, “and the optimism never left us. We knew we were going to win.”’None of us wants to think we will have to hold on to hope, to keep struggling for such a long time. And the odds are, we won’t. But we can’t give up just because it is hard. Just because it is taking longer than we hoped. There is just too much at stake. And we can make a difference. We can win.